BBC World News will feature product placement on programmes such as technology, sport and travel documentaries, but not on its core news and current affairs output.

The BBC took on funding responsibilities for the BBC World Service on 1 April last year following the 2010 licence fee settlement.

The BBC has had an occasionally troubled history with sponsorship following a row over drinks brand Robinsons’ sponsorship of the 2007 Sports Personality of the Year.

It prompted a ban on the event’s sponsorship for the next eight years, lifted only earlier this year when the trust approved new arrangements allowing it to be sponsored by non-commercial charities, trusts or foundations.

The BBC increased investment in the World Service following big cuts in government funding, but it has indicated that further cost savings of £15m will be required. Its current annual spend of £245m is guaranteed until the end of 2016.

Its then chief, Peter Horrocks, said last year that commercial revenues could account for as much as 10% of the global news operation’s total budget (although initially only 2.5%).

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The BBC Trust approved product placement on BBC World News in February, in minutes of the meeting published on Thursday. There is already product placement on the BBC’s other commercial channels.

The extension, to include “sponsored references in sponsored programmes” on BBC World News, will be reviewed in 12 months. The change will take place with immediate effect.

A BBC Global News spokeswoman said: “BBC World News will trial product placement within a limited number of its non-news programmes for an initial period of a year, after which the policy will be reviewed.

“This change brings BBC World News in line with the BBC’s other commercial channels. Each proposal to reference a sponsor will be carefully considered at group director level on a case by case basis and will only be allowed when it is both editorially justified and in line with Ofcom’s guidelines.

“On those occasions it will be clearly marked with the universal product placement logo to ensure transparency for the audience.”